Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Feb. 17th, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I call to order meeting number 15 of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

Given the ongoing pandemic situation and in light of the recommendations from the health authorities, as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on January 28, 2021, to remain healthy and safe, all those attending the meeting in person should maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from others, wear a non-medical mask when moving in the meeting room, and preferably wear a mask at all times, including when seated. Maintain proper hand hygiene by using the provided hand sanitizers at the room entrance, and wash your hands well with soap regularly.

As the chair, I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of the meeting, and I thank all members in advance for their co-operation.

Welcome, everyone, to meeting number 15 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. I just want to give you a heads-up, for the information of all members, that the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship has agreed to appear before the committee on Monday, March 8 regarding the supplementary estimates and the main estimates, provided we receive them in time. I understand the committee wishes to study those estimates.

The first item on the agenda today is the election of a vice-chair. PROC has changed the committee membership. Ms. Dancho is no longer a member. Mr. Kyle Seeback is now a member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Thank you to Ms. Dancho for her collaborative engagement in this session. On behalf of all members, I would like to welcome Mr. Seeback to this committee.

As a result of Ms. Dancho's departure from the committee, we do not have a first vice-chair. The Standing Orders require that the first vice-chair shall be a member of the official opposition. I would request that the clerk preside over the election of the first vice-chair.

Mr. Clerk, go ahead.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Leif-Erik Aune]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition. I'm prepared to receive motions for the position of first vice-chair.

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West, ON]

Mr. Clerk, I would like to nominate Jasraj Hallan, please.

[The Clerk]

Mr. Allison moves that Mr. Jasraj Hallan be nominated for first vice-chair.

Are there any other nominations?

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

I second that.

[The Clerk]

Are there any other nominations?

Seeing none, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the nomination? It appears unanimous.

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Hallan is duly elected first vice-chair.

Madam Chair, back to you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

Congratulations, Mr. Hallan, on being elected as the first vice-chair for the standing committee.

We will have to move on to resuming our study on the special immigration and refugees measures for the people of Hong Kong.

Ms. Kwan, is it a point of order?

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Yes, Madam Chair. Before we move on to the study, I would like to move the motion that I've tabled, for which notice was given. The motion is this:

That, regarding the study of special immigration and refugee measures for the people of Hong Kong, the committee allocate one additional hour to the study to invite representatives—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

A point of order, Madam Chair. Unfortunately, the interpreter did not receive Ms. Kwan's motion. She is therefore having trouble interpreting it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Ms. Kwan, is it a point of order? You cannot move a motion on a point of order.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

It's not a point of order. I'm just going to move a motion. I'm allowed to move a motion on the proviso that notice has been given properly, so I'm moving the motion. I had my hand up prior to your intention of moving forward with the committee. Dealing with the motion should not take very long. The motion has been tabled to the clerk. It's been translated, and I believe the document has been sent to everyone.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Ms. Kwan.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I agree that Ms. Kwan's—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, do you have a point of order?

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Yes, a point of order, Madam Chair.

I agree with Ms. Kwan putting forward her motion. It's just that the interpreter is telling me in my headphones, which I didn't pay for myself because the House sent them to me, that she does not have the translation of Ms. Kwan's motion, because she has not received it from the House.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Just one second; let me find out from the clerk.

Mr. Clerk, could you please clarify with regard to Ms. Kwan moving the motion and Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe's point of order that there is no translated version of the motion available?

[The Clerk]

I will send an electronic copy to the office and to the P9 of Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe now, in case he has not yet received Ms. Kwan's notice of motion.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

The P9 account is fine. I was actually talking about the translation.

[The Clerk]

It may—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

It is important. We have the Official Languages Act and our translators must absolutely have an opportunity to translate, otherwise it's a problem for them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

Mr. Clerk, you were saying something.

[The Clerk]

Members may move a motion if they have the floor in debate. Our rules prescribe that members may not move motions on a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Ms. Kwan, you have your hand raised.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you. I will proceed, if I may, Madam Chair.

The motion I'd like to move, of which I have given proper notice, is this:

That, regarding the study of special immigration and refugee measures for the people of Hong Kong, the committee allocate one additional hour to the study to invite representatives of VFS Global to testify for one hour, and that this meeting take place not later than February 24, 2021.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Do I have the unanimous consent of the members to allow Ms. Kwan to move the motion?